[Astronomy] June Astronomy Announcements For Central Nebraska

[Mark Urwiller]

Hello everyone,

I have added a few new addresses to my monthly distribution list.  For those of you receiving this message for the first time, I hope we can add another benefit/resource for your readers/listeners.  All of the events found in my monthly announcements are open to the general public and free of charge.  Much of this month's message will be familiar to last month's readers.  I posted it again as an introduction to new readers on this list.

The Platte Valley Astronomical Observers (PVAO) and Seven Hills Observatory are pulling out all the stops to help bring astronomy to the public in this area and perhaps snag a few new members in the process.  We are implementing the following new ideas:

First, we have revised the way we handle meetings.  We have delegated the "business" portion of our club to the listserv we maintain.  This listserv is also a means of notifying interested members of the public about our club activities.  Any interested person can sign up for it at this link  http://lists.esu10.org/mailman/listinfo/astronomy <http://vega.kearneypublic.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://lists.esu10.org/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> 
We now concentrate on hands-on sky observation whenever the weather allows.  Afterwards (or in lieu of this), we answer questions for our guests or new members and/or watch an entertaining program or video on astronomy.

Second, we have decided to bring our meetings to easily accessible locations within the Tri-Cities.  We will alternate these meetings between these communities and with your help, hopefully introduce astronomy to a greater audience than we have previously been able to do.  This can be quite "handy" due to the price of gas!

Third, we will continue to host astronomical viewing, not just at our privately owned facilities, but at locations within these communities.  We have also built a telescope that can be loaned to new members without a telescope or by local educators!

Lastly, our listserv has been active in discussion about other ways we might spark interested within the public in the Tri-Cities which have included book donations to the public libraries in the area and holding workshops on how to get started in the hobby.  We would greatly appreciate any ideas you in the media might have and your assistance in helping us achieve these new goals!


Here are the astronomical activities happening in the Tri-Cities area in June: 

June 14 , 2008 - Public observing at Sachtleben Observatory in Hastings at 9:30 PM CDT  

June 16, 2008 -  Public solar observing conducted by Seven Hills Observatory at Kearney's Hilltop Mall 7:30-8:30 PM CDT (Cancelled if cloudy)

June 26, 2008 - General meeting of the PVAO -7:30 PM CDT - Sachtleben Observatory in Hastings.  Directions can be found at www.pvao.us.  The group will observe the sun with special filters if it's clear enough.  Afterwards, we will entertain guests with questions and/or view an episode from the History Channel's "The Universe" series - "The Search For ET"

June 28, 2008 - Public observing at Sachtleben Observatory in Hastings at 9:30 PM CDT 


Members of the public interested in visiting Seven Hills Observatory can call 308-293-5776 before 10:00 PM daily for registration and directions.  Those interested in observing at Sachtleben Observatory can call 402-462-7378. Again, there is no charge for any of these activities. Further information on both of these facilities and the activities can be found by contacting them at their websites.

One more important piece of information - Both Seven Hills Observatory and the Platte Valley Astronomical Observers now have renamed website addresses!  They are much easier to remember!  They are:

www.7hillsobs.org  and www.pvao.us

Thanks again so much for your help in promoting these events.


 
Mark Urwiller
Seven Hills Observatory Director
President, Platte Valley Astronomical Observers
Physics Instructor, Kearney High School
4711 Heather Lane
Kearney NE 68845

308-293-5776
mark.urwiller at kearneypublic.org <mailto:mark.urwiller at kearneypublic.org> 
mark.urwiller at gmail.com <mailto:mark.urwiller at gmail.com> 

Web pages:
www.7hillsobs.org <http://www.7hillsobs.org/> 

www.pvao.us <http://www.pvao.us/> 
www.bigbandreprise.com
www.centralnebraskaphotography.com